Ururu-chan leaped into the air, hoisting a cloth wrapped weapon on her shoulder. The barrage of projectiles she'd release would cover a wide area, making Santen Kesshun all but useless. Once, that would have caused Orihime to despair; her ability, the special power unique to her, was especially suited to protecting, so she should have been able to ensure everyone's safety. She understood how foolish a notion that was now.
Her power was wonderful, but she could not be everywhere at once. Jinta-kun could take care of himself, and she couldn't afford to be distracted by problems she had no chance of solving. Turning her eyes away from the trails of smoke left by Ururu-chan's missiles, Orihime erected a barrier in front of herself, rejecting a straight, powerful blast of spiritual energy. Sado-kun was the threat today. She had to focus on him. Jinta-kun would be fine. She had to make herself believe that.
Another blast came, this time as a shockwave rending the earth beneath her feet. She wrapped herself in a protective field, negating the destructive force. As soon as the danger subsided, she dropped the barrier and broke into a run for cover. The spot where she was standing moments ago erupted in a shower of rocks and dust. An attack like that wouldn't have been enough to threaten her defenses-that wasn't the focus of this training-it was meant to keep her in place.
Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka was miraculously potent when used to support others, and that made it easy to rely on it too much. An enemy determined to hold her still could do so by simply bombarding her with attacks. She would escape harm as long as her barrier was up, but she wouldn't be able to support her friends unless they were standing right next to her.
So she rolled, skidding to a stop behind a large rock. She couldn't see Sado-kun from here, but she had a clear view of Ururu-chan and Jinta-kun. She looked over just in time to see her partner sailing through the air trailing smoke. Assuming Sado-kun would continue trying to pin her down it would be difficult to offer support. Still, she had to try.
Anticipating an attack through her cover, Orihime erected a barrier. A powerful burst of spiritual energy exploded through the rock, slamming into the shield and covering the immediate area with a cloud of dust. Using the cloud like a smokescreen, she broke off and sprinted as hard as she could towards Jinta-kun.
Another blast threatened to engulf her, so she spun and went on the offensive. Shiten Kōshun sprang up around her, absorbing the incoming power and sending it back where it came from. Sado-kun knew her well enough to know this could happen, so it wouldn't give her that much time to work with, but she could still-
"Wha-?!" Before Orihime could even dismiss Shiten Kōshun, Sado-kun appeared beside her, fist pulled back to strike. He reacted so fast! Was her plan really that predictable?
She moved as fast as she could to redirect her shield, but it was too late. Sado-kun's attack struck her side. He was holding back, but she still heard her ribs creak as he sent her flying across the field. All she could do was protect her head and hope hitting the ground didn't hurt too badly.
The impact sent waves of pain through her body as she bounced and rolled, collecting cuts and scrapes on her arms and legs. A battle was a battle, training or not. There was no time to fret over minor injuries like these. She finally skidded to a stop, but when she tried to stand a much more intense jolt exploded from her ankle.
Not good.
With her out of the way, Jinta-kun would be fighting two-on-one. She had to get back into the action as quickly as possible. But her ankle . . . If she didn't heal herself first, she'd only be a burden. That wasn't an option. The light of Sōten Kisshun enveloped her wounded foot. It was much worse than a scrape, but it may as well have been a small bump to her healing abilities. She was back on her feet in seconds.
Just in time to see a barrage of missiles bearing down on her with Sado-kun following close behind.
Orihime hesitated. What was she supposed to do in this situation?
A barrier . . . She needed to erect a barrier! The first set of missiles were about to reach her!
"Not gonna happen!" Jinta-kun dashed in swinging his bat and destroyed the first wave of explosives. "Orihime!"
"R-Right!" Orihime erected a dome around them, absorbing the rest of the missiles and a blast from Sado-kun. That was far too close for comfort. If she froze up like that in a real fight . . . better not to think about it. She needed to keep her cool at all times, and that was that. "Let me heal you, Jinta-kun."
"Not now. We need to go on the offensive as soon as possible." He stepped up to the edge of the shield, eyes determined. Going by just that look, it would be easy to go along with him. The streaks of blood and torn clothes revealing grievous wounds ruined the effect completely, however.
"You can't go on fighting like that! Let me heal you first, then we can work out a strategy."
"Are you being serious?!" He snapped at her as she approached with hands raised, "They're both offensive monsters, while we've got a more balanced team. We can last longer in a drawn out fight, so the healing can wait until I hit my limit!"
"That's no good! You can't fight properly in that state. You're already at your limit!" A shower of powerful attacks fell on the barrier and Orihime flinched. She was right, right?
Jinta-kun spun on her, "Listen you! I know my-" An earth-shattering blast slammed into the wall around them, shattering it. They needed another shield right away, but Jinta-kun still needed healing!
Orihime rushed over to her partner's side. She needed to help him recover. She needed to support him properly. Even if she fell, as long as he was at a hundred percent, then everything would turn out fine. It would!
Wouldn't it?
Sado-kun emerged from the smoke, burying his fist in Jinta-kun's stomach and sending him shooting past Orihime. She took a step back and caught sight of Ururu-chan atop a boulder, weapon perched on her shoulder. Facing the spiritual energy quickly building in that missile launcher and Sado-kun bearing down on her, Orihime froze.
If she erected a barrier, they could just go finish off Jinta-kun. If she tried to reach Jinta-kun, they'd take care of her first. She fell to her knees, completely paralyzed by indecision. She couldn't support her partner. She lost.
"Alright, that's enough!" The call echoed throughout the training grounds along with the sharp sound of clapping. The crunching of dirt underfoot drew Orihime's attention. Shihōin Yoruichi looked satisfied as she came closer. "Well done, Chad. That's the kind of progress I like to see."
He blinked at her and nodded. "Thank you. I'm not sure if I can call this progress, though."
She reached up and playfully slapped his shoulder, "Of course you can! You were in sync with a partner who engaged at long range. Your ability to work in tandem with someone you weren't totally familiar with was on full display." She smiled at Ururu-chan and slapped Sado-kun on the shoulder again. "Go take five, big guy. You've still got plenty of work to do today."
Orihime felt a stab of shame as Yoruichi's gaze fell on her. There wasn't a hint of disappointment in the look she gave her, but that only made her failure sting more. Did she expect Orihime to fail from the start?
"Stand up, Orihime. I've got a new training regimen for you. Chop-chop, move those feet." Yoruichi strode past without giving Orihime a moment to collect herself. Biting her lip, she pushed herself up and followed. She needed help to get stronger. It wouldn't do to drag her feet now. They might give up on her if she did.
They trekked across the artificial wasteland to a rest area situated at the base of a hill by the training grounds' entrance. That gave Orihime way too much time to think.
The weight of her failure in the mock battle made each step away from the field painful. She should have performed better. She should have acted more quickly. She should have been more decisive. That was her biggest failure, she thought. When it became clear that Jinta-kun needed healing, she should have done everything in her power to reach him and get him back in fighting shape. When he refused, she should have gone ahead and healed him anyway. Instead, she hesitated and confused her purpose. What kind of support is that?
By the time she sat down on the bench, her eyes were glued to her feet. She couldn't bear to meet Yoruichi's gaze right now.
"Now then," Yoruichi said, breathing out, "let's go over what just happened out there. Do you know where you went wrong?"
"I wasn't confident in my decisions, and so slowed down my partner as well as myself."
"Oh? That's not a bad assessment. Not entirely accurate, but good nonetheless." What did she mean by that?
Had Orihime made a mistake she wasn't seeing? She braced herself and looked up at Yoruichi. Her expression was calm and cool as always. Still no disappointment or displeasure, somehow. She lowered her eyes again without asking for an explanation.
Yoruichi started tapping her foot. "Not going to say anything? It isn't like you to stay quiet like this. What's wrong?"
"I . . ." A lump formed in her throat. Was she wasting her time here? Getting in everyone's way? She forced the lump down, "I messed up somewhere, and I can't even tell where exactly it happened. It's been like this every time and I'm still not getting it. I feel like a failure. I'm the only one not making progress. I'm not any stronger than I was before." She surprised herself by how steady her voice was. She expected to be balling her eyes out right about now.
"You were so close," Yoruichi sighed. She snapped her fingers. "Look at me, Orihime. You're being way too hard on yourself. You messed up, yeah, but to say that you aren't any stronger is downright wrong." She still didn't look disappointed, but she was definitely angry. "Your problem in that last fight was indeed your hesitation. You were caught between two courses of action and couldn't judge which was best moment to moment. But do you know the cause of that problem?"
Orihime shook her head. She didn't know the cause. That was the problem.
"The cause is you trying to be too many things you're not. You're so fixated on 'becoming stronger' that you fail to see yourself growing. No, you aren't strong, nor are you a fighter, but that doesn't mean you don't have a place on the battlefield. So quit moping and use your words. Unless you want me to start treating you like a child."
"I don't understand . . ." She took a deep breath, keeping the lump at bay. "I'm trying to be what I'm not? But what I'm trying to be is a support for the others. So, if I'm not a fighter, and I'm not fit for support, then what is there for me?"
Yoruichi bent over, bringing her face down to Orihime's level. Her eyebrows were turned down, the skin on the bridge of her nose wrinkled as if in disgust. "Get out of your own head and quit twisting my words. You say you're trying to act as a support, but you clearly don't have a good idea of what that means. Tell me, what are you good at? What are the skills you bring to the table?"
Orihime shrank under Yoruichi's intensity but she answered as best she could. "I have my Shun Shun Rikka. My barriers and my healing ability."
"Right. So, you think that running into the thick of combat to administer those abilities is the role of a support? You should be standing back, waiting on the sidelines for your friends to come to you."
"But that's-" Orihime's voice died as the lump filled her throat. She didn't want that. She didn't want to be relegated to watching from afar anymore. If she did that, she'd be more than useless!
"When Jinta tried to jump back into the fight, you stopped him. That was the moment you lost. You let your position on the battlefield go to your head and you delayed the only person on your team capable of fighting back, giving your opponents plenty of time to group up." That was true, but . . . "You tried to take on too much of the burden. You tried to carry a weight that you weren't strong enough to handle. You shouldn't be standing on the battlefield. You should just give up!"
"No! I don't want that! I want to fight alongside Kurosaki-kun and Sado-kun and Ishida-kun! I don't want to be useless!" She fought back tears as she rejected those horrible ideas. She clenched her fists, gripping her skirts with all of her strength, but that only made the shaking worse. Even so, she couldn't let herself be pushed to the side!
She glared into Yoruichi's eyes, daring her to challenge her resolve again, but she didn't. She smiled, instead. "That's what I like to hear! Well? Do you feel better?"
Orihime looked up at her, completely confused, partly because she couldn't follow her teacher's intentions, and partly because she actually did feel better. "I'm sorry, Yoruichi, but I don't really know what just happened. Did I miss something?"
"Oh boy, did you. But let's see if we can't open your eyes a little wider. What is it that you want to be? What role do you want to fill when you fight?"
"I said I want to . . ." She was going to say support, but that didn't feel right anymore. What exactly did she want to do? "I don't think I know the answer to that question."
"And you say you aren't making any progress." Yoruichi smiled, looking satisfied. "I meant what I said before. You're pulling yourself in too many directions at once. You want to support your friends, but you also want to stand by them and fight. You have two distinct ideas that simply don't mesh well."
"So then, I need to commit myself to one or the other?"
"Perhaps, but perhaps not. What you need to do is decide. Decide what you want to do, and decide how you want to do it. If you want to protect, then focus on that. If you want to fight, then put in the effort to do so. Whatever you choose, you need to put yourself into it wholeheartedly. No hesitation. No second guesses."
Orihime felt a terrible weight-a weight that she hadn't realized was there-melt away. She had been trying to do too much. Looking back, it made so much sense. Too much. It made her feel like a fool. She almost wanted to laugh until she cried.
"I like that look, like you've just recognized your failings." Orihime jumped at having her mind read, but she smiled up at her teacher. "I want you to stay here while I go work on Chad. Think about what I just told you. Figure out how you can allocate your resources to maximize your potential. Support or front lines . . . who knows, you might just find a middle ground that works."
"Yeah . . . right." Orihime watched Yoruichi go, her mind racing. She'd been presented with a new perspective, and now it was up to her to figure out how best to use it.
Her strengths were almost entirely in her Shun Shun Rikka. That was an indisputable fact. But she didn't want to be relegated to the sidelines. She didn't want to just participate when the need arose. She wanted to fight. She wanted to stand with Kurosaki-kun, side by side, and face whatever danger there was together.
A middle ground . . . Could she really have both if she worked hard enough?
It was worth trying.
+ Break +
Hitsugaya Tōshirō, Captain of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13, strode down the avenue beside his division's barracks, his mind set. His defeat at the hands of that ape-like Quincy showed him that he had grown complacent. Hyōrinmaru is the strongest ice and snow type Zanpakuto there is . . . that is what others always told him, and he knew it to be true. It shouldn't ever lose. But thinking back, it became clear that his sword's power was greatest only when being compared to others of the same type.
It didn't hold up. His power, his supposed talent, were useless. He couldn't defeat his opponent, nor could he protect his subordinates. He couldn't rely on those old crutches anymore. Honestly, he shouldn't have ever relied on them so heavily. So, how should he proceed?
The answer came to him more slowly than he would ever admit. It was so painfully obvious that it made him itch all over. He needed to improve where he was lacking, and that meant returning to the basics.
He paced in front of his Division's training facilities, unsure exactly how he should go about asking for assistance. He'd realized on the way that he'd never actually been inside this particular building; a nasty side effect of his meteoric rise to the top.
Hello! Please teach me things I, as a Captain, should already know! As if that would work. Tōshirō's skin crawled at the thought. There had to be a way to avoid the awkwardness that he envisioned! But he couldn't think of anything! It wasn't like he could be coy about it. I, as your Captain, have decided on a whim to inspect the quality of your training! That would be a disaster, full stop.
He was going to make a fool of himself. That was bad enough on its own, and the effect it would have on morale would be nightmarish.
There was no avoiding it, was there? Tōshirō rolled his shoulders and neck, trying to release some of the tension creeping up his back, but all he managed to do was remind himself that he wasn't carrying his Zanpakuto. The absence of that familiar weight only served to heighten his uncertainty. It was necessary, though. He needed to go into this without the option to rely on his normal power. He had to learn, not fall back on old habits.
Recognizing that didn't calm his nerves one bit. He loitered outside the facility, looking down the avenue one way, inspecting whatever caught his eye as if he were looking out for something specific. When he exhausted every mundane detail he turned to face the other way to do the same. When he was done on this side, he'd change once again. He wasn't sure how long he could sit there doing nothing, but he was determined to keep it up until he mustered the courage to enter.
He had just started counting the tiles lining the walls on this side of the road when a small group of approaching Shinigami distracted him. Captain Muguruma strolled nonchalantly with his excitable Lieutenant by his side. Nothing notable about that, really. What caught his eye was the 9th Division's other Lieutenant slung over Muguruma's shoulder. He almost dove into the building right then to avoid the odd assembly, but they were on him before he could react.
"Captain Hitsugaya. What are you up to?" Muguruma stopped, offering a nod, completely oblivious to the fact that he was sticking his nose in other people's business.
"That's what I should be saying." Tōshirō crossed his arms and shifted his weight. He wasn't about to put his distress on full display. "What's the deal with Lieutenant Hisagi? Kind of an odd place to take a nap."
Muguruma's expression hardened. It was easy to forget when his fellows were so laid back most of the time, but the current Captain of the 9th was a real hard-ass. "For your information, this guy's been training with me, and I pushed him a little too hard."
"A little? It looks like you're lugging a corpse around! What are you going to do if the Quincies attack while he's incapacitated?"
"Pretty mouthy for someone just standing around while the rest of us are preparing." He didn't speak in a snarky or sarcastic way, that wasn't the kind of person Muguruma Kensei was. No, he could shamelessly speak his mind, no matter how biting or blunt that might make his words.
It wasn't an insult-it was even true- but Tōshirō still felt his cheeks flush. He could respect the man for his frankness, but he couldn't stand being made to feel like a child.
He wasn't in any position to talk back, though.
"If you're that concerned, I had a legitimate reason for pushing him as hard as I did." Muguruma handed the unconscious Hisagi off to his other Lieutenant, giving her something to do other than pester him. "I've heard that Lieutenant Hisagi has achieved Bankai. They were just rumors, but we can't afford to pass on any advantage we can get right now."
That was true. Tōshirō had heard the same rumors, but he'd gotten them almost exclusively through the filter of an intoxicated Matsumoto. "So you put him through the ringer based on obviously exaggerated stories?"
"Of course I did." Not even a hint of humor. "I brought him out to a field I had cleared and told him to use his Bankai on me. He refused, but never said he couldn't do it. So it made sense to push him until he had no choice but to use it."
That story did nothing to make him look more compassionate. Not likely that he cared, though. "I get what you were trying to do, but it was clear from the start that he couldn't actually use Bankai. Driving your subordinates to exhaustion like that will only sour their impressions of you. I don't agree with your methods."
"I don't care if you agree or not. The Lieutenant of the 9th Division is my responsibility and I will handle him however I wish." Muguruma stepped in close, looking down at Tōshirō with quiet intensity. "I command my troops, but their thoughts are their own. If I stayed my hand because I was afraid they might dislike me, then I wouldn't be much of a leader. Ultimately, their individual impressions of me are irrelevant. As long as they follow orders and fight with all their strength, I don't mind if they hate and slander me." He broke eye contact, thankfully, and turned away. Lieutenant Kuna was running off with Hisagi, it seemed. "You've been a Captain for near enough twenty years, I hear. I think it's time you start taking the position seriously."
Tōshirō clenched his teeth until his jaw hurt. He didn't glare at Muguruma's back as he left. He couldn't. If he did, he would most certainly lose his cool. Nothing the other Captain said had been wrong. He'd cut straight to the center of Tōshirō's fears and waved that shame under his nose. Even worse, that insufferable hard-ass didn't do it intentionally!
There wasn't a single point that Tōshirō could argue, and he wasn't sure he wanted to. It was so frustrating!
He wasn't sure how long he stood there, glaring up at the sky, but Muguruma was long gone by the time Tōshirō came to his senses. Faint shouts and grunts drifted from the training grounds, drawing his attention back to his reasons for coming here in the first place.
They'd doubt him.
They'd laugh at him.
They'd lose faith . . . But was that really so important? When Captain Shiba disappeared and Tōshirō was promoted, they hadn't respected him. His first few years in the position were spent trying to prove himself to most of the 10th Division. It was a struggle, but he won them over eventually. Worrying about losing face was the same as thinking he couldn't earn their respect again.
That was nonsense.
Was he an idiot?! He worked hard for his authority and he sure as hell would again, if it came to that.
Muguruma was right. He needed to grow up and start acting like a real Captain. He had to act the part. Even while he begged to be trained, he needed to carry the air of a leader. No, not just any leader. He was the Captain of the 10th Division. Releasing a deep breath, Tōshirō finally passed through the training facility's gates.
The halls of the sword dojo were immaculately clean. After so much wide-spread destruction it wouldn't have been a surprise to see this place in shambles. That they managed to keep it in such great shape was deeply impressive.
He stopped a pair of new recruits to ask directions. He ignored their awed expressions. For now, he had to be fine with putting himself on their level. He couldn't get a big head over something so small.
After a short walk, he arrived at his destination and peeked inside. Several Shinigami stood arrayed in a grid practicing basic sword forms. The instructor, a man with a thick mustache that Tōshirō had only ever spoken to once or twice, stalked around the trainees, keeping pace with sharp shouts. This was it. Moment of truth. He opened the door, drawing the instructor's attention.
The man was, understandably, surprised, and the trainees all turned to see who had caused their teacher to adopt such a shocked expression. The whispers started immediately, but Tōshirō ignored them. He wasn't here to listen in on gossip.
"C-Captain Hitsugaya! To what do we owe the pleasure?" The instructor-Tōshirō couldn't even remember his name-stammered, but made a respectful bow. The sweat glistening on his balding head was clearly not from exertion. He was nervous, though he had no need to be. A symptom of poor leadership if there ever was one.
Tōshirō made a respectful bow of his own, drawing gasps from nearly everyone in the room, the instructor included. "It has come to my intention that I am lacking in some key points. My swordsmanship, in particular, is far too weak to confront the threat that we currently face. I humbly request that you include me in your lessons."
The instructor sputtered, waving his hands, "Captain?! W-what are you saying? Surely you are far too skilled for such basic drills. Wouldn't sparring with the seated officers be more appropriate for you?"
One look was all it took for Tōshirō to fully understand what Muguruma was saying. The instructor was clearly trying to placate him. He was trying to save face, but that was only for show. The truth of the matter was just as apparent. This man saw the arrival of his Captain as an intrusion. The bratty young Captain of the 10th Division was going to make a mockery of his instruction. That was how he saw this encounter. Tōshirō bowed lower, "Please. I am sure that learning here is the only way I will be able to grow strong enough to fight in the upcoming battle. I would train as any other member of this Division does."
He lifted his gaze and looked the instructor square in the eyes. He wasn't confident in his ability to convey sincerity with a look, the way Kurosaki Ichigo often did, but it seemed to have the desired effect as the instructor visibly relaxed.
"All right then. I'll see that you are included in the rest of today's training. We can judge the extent of your aptitude from there." He nodded, then turned sharply, "Did I give you permission to take a break? The rest of you get back to work!"
Tōshirō observed the newly minted members of his Division while the instructor retrieved a practice sword for him. They weren't all young. That wasn't entirely surprising. Virtually every other Shinigami was older than he was, at least in terms of appearance. How long did these men and women have to struggle to make it to this point?
He was their Captain. It was his responsibility to lead them and fight for them when the situation demanded. But when it came down to it, they didn't need him. The 10th Division could go on without him. Without these people, though, there would be nothing.
When the instructor returned with his practice sword, Tōshirō stepped in line and started imitating the movements of the other trainees. Before long, his arms started to burn and sweat streamed down his face. His voice grew hoarse joining the chorus responding to the instructor's orders.
The wary, nervous glances stopped coming and he melted into the group, disappearing amongst the other amateur swordsmen. His concerns regarding his power were mixed into the effort of maintaining his focus and became diluted. For the first time, he really felt like a part of the Division he led.
They weren't as talented as he was, nor were they as powerful, but nobody who put this much effort into improving themselves could be inadequate. Gradually, he formed an image in his head. The 10th Division, not as a scattered group of individuals but as a single, synchronized group, rising up to face the Quincies. Each person adding their power, no matter how small, to the whole.
Why did he ever think to prop this group up on his own power alone? Such a foolish notion. Muguruma was right about him. He hadn't been acting as a leader. Not a proper one, anyway. As Captain, it was not his job to fight the Division's battles, but to lead them, adding his power to theirs and facing the enemies threatening them.
He wasn't an island. He didn't have to go it alone. Doing so was pure hubris. It was his pride running wild. It was wrong.
Well, he wasn't going to make that mistake anymore.
Tōshirō poured himself into his training. He would get stronger, just like his subordinates, and they would all bring the full might of the Shinigami down on the invaders together.
+ Break +
Orihime fell back onto the bench as if she were being pulled down. She threw her head back, nearly draining her canteen in one go. Once, she thought that the drills she ran in gym class were the most physically taxing thing she'd ever have to do, but there was a galaxy of difference between that tiredness and this exhaustion. Her whole body ached from blows she was unable to block and it felt like she couldn't get enough air in her lungs no matter how deeply she breathed. This was definitely the closest she'd ever come to hell without being in danger.
But she was hanging in there.
She couldn't say that she was still going strong after so many hours of intense exercise, but she was still going nonetheless. The satisfaction and pride she felt just from not giving up kept her going more than anything else.
Her progress was slow, but she could see the difference between how she was before and now. At this rate, she'd be able to contribute in a meaningful way in no time!
"Good job out there, Orihime." Yoruichi stopped beside the bench looking fresh and energetic as always. The gap in stamina might have been disheartening before, but now it was purely impressive. That was a mark of someone with a wealth of experience. She tossed a dry towel to Orihime. It was super soft and surprisingly cool. "We're going to be taking a break until Chad gets back, so just sit tight and rest."
"Okay!" Orihime snuggled up with the towel, wiping away sweat and grime. How did she get it so cool? Was there a refrigerator down here?
Yoruichi smiled at her. Was there a hint of pride in that look? She almost looked a little mischievous as she looked up at the training grounds' entrance. "I'm going to check in with Kisuke. Be back soon." She started for the entrance, then snickered, "Good luck."
What did she mean by that? For a brief moment, Orihime worried that there might be a surprise challenge waiting to pounce on her as soon as her guard was lowered, but she dismissed the thought. Yoruichi made the importance of not overexerting clear. She wouldn't contradict herself after being so adamant about it.
So Orihime committed to resting and replenishing her stamina. She pulled a lunchbox out of her bag and carefully removed the lid. She prepared this meal as a reward for a day of hard work, and she felt she'd earned it and more at this point. She had some sweets tucked away as well, so when all was said and done, she'd reward herself again.
She didn't realize just how hungry she was until that first bite passed her lips. Before she knew it, half of the box was empty. She blushed, Thank goodness nobody's around to see me scarfing like this. Yoruichi would definitely tease her, and although Sado-kun wouldn't say anything out loud, she knew what kind of face he'd make. If Kurosaki-kun saw her like this . . . well, she might just die of embarrassment!
"Yo, Inoue. How's it going?" A frighteningly familiar voice made Orihime's heart stop for a moment. She nearly choked on a shamefully large bite as well. Her windpipe clear, she spun, face burning hotter than the sun.
"Kurosaki-kun?!" Wh-wh-wh-what was he doing here?! "Weren't you training in Soul Society?!" She could barely contain herself. She was surprised to see him. More than that, she was overjoyed! But why did he have to show up and see her like this?!
He sat down beside her and she felt steam escaping from her ears. "I was sent back to reflect on some things, I guess. What about you? I hear you've been working hard here this whole time." He scanned the faux desert of the training grounds, no doubt noticing how thoroughly destroyed it was. Chunks of rock and large boulders littered the ground wherever there weren't craters. He turned back to her and their eyes met. Her heart nearly beat a hole in her chest.
There was something different about those eyes. The fiery energy she knew so well was still there, but it was tempered by a kind of calm that made Orihime's breath catch. Should she be saying something right now?
"Kurosaki-kun!" She was staring. She was totally staring at him, and now she was shouting. Her entire body must have been beet red! What was she supposed to say at a time like this? Wait . . . He asked her a question didn't he? "Umm, yeah, I've been giving it my all!" She brought her voice down to something less screech-y and held out her arms like a bodybuilder showing off her muscles.
He blinked, and an awkward moment passed between them. She held the pose all the way through. Somehow, lowering her arms now would make it even more embarrassing. Then he laughed. "Oh man, that's a relief!" He tilted his head back like he'd just heard the best joke in the world.
"Did I . . . do something funny?" Of course she did. It was obvious, but maybe if she played dumb he might take pity on her and ignore it.
Kurosaki-kun wiped a tear from his eye and smiled at her, "Not really funny, just . . . So much is changing; I'm learning things about myself and everybody's getting stronger at a breakneck speed. It's like the world itself is shifting, and yet you're still the same old Inoue."
The same old . . .? "I'm not the same." Orihime said, forcing down a sudden surge of frustration, "I've been trying hard to not be the same. I want to be able to fight with you from now on, so . . . so don't say that I haven't grown. Please."
She braced herself. He was going to feel hurt because of her tone, and she didn't want to see that, but she couldn't let him assume she wasn't getting stronger. She was pleasantly surprised when he kept on smiling and bobbed his head apologetically. "My bad. I wasn't trying to say anything like that, but I'm sorry. I meant to say that, even though everything around me is in flux, I can still count on you to put a smile on my face."
The fluttering in her chest intensified, but she had to wonder, did she really have that effect on him? So often it felt like she only ever made him worry. Looking at him now, though . . . He was so confident. Confident in her! It might have been her imagination, but the idea that he trusted her like that made her all giddy.
"Seriously though, thanks, Inoue. Getting to spend some time chatting with a friend like this really ties this whole experience together for me." He turned back to the training grounds, looking at anything other than her. Were his cheeks flushed? No, that couldn't be.
A sound like a roaring diesel engine rang out. If he wasn't before, he was definitely blushing now. Orihime held out her lunch, "Skipped breakfast?" He accepted it silently and she retrieved the second course from her bag. She had to make sure she was properly fed too.
They ate quietly, neither of them taking the initiative. It was growing more and more awkward by the second. They'd spoken privately before in the brief minutes before friends joined them, and there had even been times when they were alone together for longer periods of time, but Orihime had always felt a distance between them. She blamed herself for that more often than not. After all, It wasn't Kurosaki-kun who was hesitating and second guessing every word that came out of his mouth. He wasn't the awkward one.
She didn't want that trend to continue. She wanted to close that gap, and she couldn't do that by sitting there quietly.
She wanted to change things between them. This was as good an opportunity as any.
Treading lightly, Orihime reached out, asking after Kurosaki-kun's family. It was a bold move, by her estimation. He'd always been cagey about his family. He would complain about his sisters in that way older siblings often did, but when it came to his parents . . . well, the image he painted was far and above better than her's.
He was typically dismissive of his father, and his mother was a sore spot that usually left him in a sour mood. For the longest time, all that Orihime knew about his family came from the bits and pieces he let slip before changing the subject.
The openness of his response, then, was a startling relief. He talked about staying with his family overnight. Those same impressions were present in his story, of course, but they were dwarfed by a fondness that had never appeared in their previous conversations. He bragged about Karin-chan's athletic accomplishments, and he sang the praises of Yuzu-chan's cooking. He laughed, joyous, as he called his father a good-for-nothing quack without an ounce of culinary skill. It was like getting to know them all over again.
He talked about his mother, too. That was, perhaps, the biggest shock of all. Orihime knew that Kurosaki Misaki died when he was younger, and that Kurosaki-kun felt guilty about her death. She even knew the circumstances surrounding her passing.
This was so much more. He recalled happy memories from his childhood and went on and on about how wonderful a person his mother was. There was so much love and pride there that the heat it gave off warmed Orihime to the core.
She almost started crying. She'd always hoped to be able to talk with him like this, but at some point she had suppressed that hope, resigning herself to being a friend kept at arm's length. Being able to chat and laugh together like this made her happier than she'd ever been.
The conversation drifted to more mundane matters-school, work, friends-and continued without losing steam. It felt like they'd been talking all day, but even then it didn't feel long enough. What Orihime wouldn't give to make this last forever . . .
There simply wasn't time. There were more pressing matters. The Soul Society was in danger, and so was the rest of the world, going by what Kisuke told her. Kurosaki-kun needed to fight the invading Quincies. There was no getting around that. This had to end at some point.
When it did, Orihime couldn't suppress her disappointment.
Yoruichi called down from the training grounds' entrance. She had a rather unfriendly looking young woman with her. "Hey Ichigo! Your chaperone is here to take you back to Soul Society!"
Kurosaki-kun stiffened. "Whoa . . ." he said as he turned, "she looks even more pissed than the first time I saw her. Sorry, Inoue, but I've got to get back." He smiled apologetically and stood with a grunt. Orihime pushed herself up as well. She wanted to give him a proper send off.
"Back to training, then? Do your best!" She couldn't hide how disappointed she was, but her enthusiasm was real. Being able to cheer him on . . . that was enough. For now. "Sado-kun and I will be right behind you, so wait for us. Okay?"
He looked uncertain for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think I'll have to wait that long, so no problem. Good luck with your training." He turned to go, leaving her standing beside the bench. Her heart ached from a sudden pang of loneliness, but that depressing feeling was easily overcome by determination. She would stand by his side before all of this was over. "Oh! I almost forgot," Kurosaki-kun stopped and called back to her, "Thanks for the food, Inoue. It was really delicious! Make it for me again sometime!"
She nodded and waved him off. Watching him run towards that irritated-looking girl made her a little nervous, but this was Kurosaki-kun she was talking about. He'd make a friend of her in no time.
As he disappeared through the entrance another thought occurred to her, and she froze. He thanked her for the lunch. He'd eaten her lunch, the lunch she'd prepared by hand. She'd literally handed him a box of her hand-made food. She didn't have to look down to know that her entire body was swathed in scarlet.
That wasn't the first time Kurosaki-kun had eaten her cooking. She was sure of it! So why did this time feel so embarrassing?!
"Hey, Orihime. You're looking a little flushed. Did you rest like I told you to?" Yoruichi stalked up to her. The voice she used carried concern, but the mischievous look on her face oozed amusement. She was acting like she set this whole thing up! Which . . . she might have. "Come on. Chad will be down in just a little bit. Let's get you warmed back up so we can get right back into your training."
Orihime tried to give Yoruichi her thanks for giving her an opportunity to talk with Kurosaki-kun like that, and for all of the help she was giving, but the words got caught in her throat. She was way too flustered to make a sound. So she bowed, nearly achieving a right angle. Yoruichi didn't seem to notice the gesture, but that was fine.
There would be plenty of opportunities to show her gratitude in the days to come. She'd start by giving everything she had in this training, and then giving a little bit more.
Orihime ran after Yoruichi with an eager smile on her face. She still had a ways to go, but considering her progress so far, she had no doubts she would be able to fight by her friends' sides in no time.
Her determination would carry her through.
She was sure of it.